When Sir Ranulph Fiennes, regarded as one of Britain’s most celebrated explorers, went missing from public view last October, concern mounted among his close circle. In an unusual turn of events, his former sister-in-law, Arabella Pepper, took the extraordinary step of moving into the care home where he was believed to be residing in order to confirm his wellbeing.

In July last year, Pepper, the younger sister of Fiennes’s late first wife, Ginny, checked into KYN Hurlingham, a high-end care facility in west London, where Fiennes was reportedly admitted under the pseudonym “Ron Westward.” Pepper described the moment she first saw Fiennes, then 82, who appeared relieved to see a familiar face. Despite his Parkinson’s disease — diagnosed in 2020 — along with prostate cancer, arthritis, and type 2 diabetes, Pepper said he was lucid and retained his sense of humor and memory during their encounter.

Shortly after Pepper’s visit, she was asked to leave the home. Since then, Fiennes has been moved multiple times: first to a care facility in southwest London, then to one in Wales in January 2025, where he remained for about three months before reportedly moving again to a care home in Cheshire. His current location is unknown. Those who have visited him have reportedly signed non-disclosure agreements, adding to the opacity surrounding his care.

Controversy has emerged regarding Fiennes’s treatment during his stay in Wales. Correspondence reviewed by the care home’s management led to allegations that he was unlawfully deprived of his liberty at the home operated by Millington-Cotes. The facility’s owner stated that Fiennes was under constant supervision and prevented from leaving, unable to consent to his care. The home owner accused Millington-Cotes—who holds lasting power of attorney for Fiennes—of failing to initiate the required legal safeguards known as deprivation of liberty safeguards. This alleged oversight prompted Fiennes’s transfer out of the Welsh care home.

The care home’s owner also raised concerns about a “do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation” directive provided by Millington-Cotes, criticizing it for lacking essential details such as an NHS number, address, and date of decision. The owner expressed frustration over the family disputes, emphasizing that arguments over health and care are rare compared to the more common financial disagreements.

Visits to Fiennes at the Welsh facility reportedly came almost exclusively from Millington-Cotes, identified as a horse trainer from Cheshire, with the exception of one visit from his daughter on his birthday. During this visit in March, they shared a meal outside while the daughter’s companion remained in the car.

Adding another layer to the family dispute, Alexander Millington-Cotes, 31, son from a previous relationship of Millington-Cotes, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to mount a legal challenge aimed at revoking his mother’s lasting power of attorney over his stepfather. Alexander described the situation as deeply distressing.

Throughout his time in care, Fiennes has reportedly spoken about Ginny and expressed relief that people had not forgotten him. The unfolding saga highlights the complex and deeply personal challenges surrounding the health care and legal guardianship of a prominent figure in declining health.